Minerals Council at work

The Minerals Council South Africa (Minerals Council) continuously looks for ways to advance the position of the South African mining industry, and to make improvements, participating in various initiatives and projects in areas relating to communities, education, health, labour, policy, regulations, safety and women in mining.

Core disciplines: The Mineral Council’s work is organised into 14 core disciplines, indicating the depth and range of the work we undertake for and with our members.

Bringing together 27 mining and metals company members and over 35 national, regional and commodities association members, we strengthen environmental and social performance and serve as a catalyst for change, enhancing mining’s contribution to society.

Economics:

Provides input, advisory services and analysis on matters affecting the industry’s economic viability and performance, investment appeal and other economic impacts. Also responsible for shaping industry responses to critical concerns affecting the sector.

Employment Relations:

Provides advisory services to members on labour relations, including labour market issues, immigration issues, employment equity and social security. Lobby key stakeholders on labour legislation and policy on behalf of the industry.

Environment:

Provides advisory services, guidance and strategic leadership on environmental sustainability, climate change, mine closure and rehabilitation in a manner that enhances members’ contributions to sustainable development. Undertakes lobbying and advocacy on key environmental sustainability and water legislation and policy on behalf of the industry.

Health:

Provides advisory services, leadership and support in the field of occupational health, medicine and hygiene, along with advocacy and advice on TB, HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The Head of Health also champions the Women in Mining (WiM) Strategy.

Safety and Sustainability Development:

Actively promotes mineworkers’ safety and health in the workplace. Also provides high-level guidance on matters that affect the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of the industry.

Junior and Emerging Miners’ Desk:

Provides advice and support, and acts as a resource centre for smaller Minerals Council member companies. Also ensures that the voice of junior and emerging miners is heard and understood by government.

Legal:

Provides legal advice in influencing legislative and other matters affecting members’ interests. The focus is on constructive policies that are consistent with the national interest. This includes addressing challenges that have arisen as a result of the increase in illegal mining.

Modernisation:

Promotes RD&I as a critical enabler of modernisation. The discipline acts to facilitate a collaborative effort on innovation that will contribute to achieving zero harm, improving productivity and competitiveness, and creating sustainable and socially acceptable mining.

MOSH Learning Hub:

Encourages and enables mining companies to learn from the safety and health expertise and leading practices that exist in the global and local mining industries.

Public Affairs and Transformation:

Engages with social partners on matters of public policy, drives the internal and industry transformation agenda and engages on the public policy implications of the issues affecting the industry.

Safety and Sustainable Development:

Actively promotes mineworkers’ safety and health in the workplace. Also provides high-level guidance on matters that affect the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of the industry.

Skills Development:

Advocates the creation of an environment that enables the mining industry to develop skilled employees for advancement and deployment.

Social Performance:

Provides a more collaborative and coordinated approach to community relations and local economic development.

Communications:

Conveys information about the Minerals Council and the mining industry to stakeholders in an honest, transparent and balanced manner. Also plays a critical role in ensuring external stakeholders are accurately and timeously informed about matters impacting the South African mining industry.

Finance and Administration:

Provides the governance, risk management, human resources and administrative structures; and the financial, information and communications technology (ICT) and facilities management of the Minerals Council.